Menthol Ban Significantly Reduces Smoking

Researchers from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health's Department of Health Behavior Research have published a study[1] in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research which indicates that banning the sale of menthol cigarettes leads to a significant reduction in smoking rates very soon after the product is banned.

The researchers conducted a systematic search of studies published in English up to November 2022 to assess the extent to which menthol bans change smoking behavior. They examined 78 studies, mainly from Canada, the European Union, and the United States.

Significant proportion of smokers quit following menthol ban

The results show that about a quarter of menthol smokers quit within a year or two of the cigarette flavor ban. The researchers also found that among menthol smokers who did not quit after the ban, about half switched to non-menthol cigarettes, 12 switched to other flavored tobacco and nicotine products, and another quarter found a way to continue smoking menthol cigarettes, either by buying them online or traveling to neighboring countries where menthol products remain legal.

The study also found that nationwide bans appear to be more effective than local or state bans in a federal country. These findings contradict arguments made by the tobacco industry that a ban is ineffective. In the United States, banning menthol is still debated due to heavy tobacco industry interference. The industry has argued that a nationwide ban could put menthol smokers in danger by seeking out illegal cigarettes, leading to violent clashes with police. However, the research has not found evidence that bans have led to an increase in the number of people turning to the black market for menthol cigarettes.

In the United States, a delay that penalizes public health

In the United States, menthol cigarettes now account for 37% of the cigarette market and are consumed primarily by adolescents, young adults, women, and African Americans due to targeted and aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a ban on menthol in cigarettes in 2022, but in December 2023, the Biden administration postponed the ban following intense lobbying by tobacco companies.

The study's lead author says the findings suggest the delay is detrimental to public health. A nationwide ban could help 4.5 million smokers in the United States quit and save hundreds of thousands of lives from premature death. The study challenges industry claims that the measure is ineffective, and highlights the lack of a shift in consumption to illicit products.

Keywords: Menthol, United States, tobacco, smoking reduction, menthol cigarettes

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] Sarah D Mills, Snigdha Peddireddy, Rachel Kurtzman, Frantasia Hill, Victor Catalan, Jennifer S Bissram, Kurt M Ribisl, The Impact of Menthol Cigarette Bans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2024;, ntae011, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae011